Description:
Colorectal cancer arises in the colon or rectum. It is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common cancer in men in the UK. Around 50% of colorectal cancer patients will develop recurrence within 5 years of initial diagnosis, with the liver being the most common site for metastatic disease.
The standard method of treatment for patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer is surgical resection, but fewer than 10% of patients are suitable for operation. For patients with non-resectable hepatic metastases, treatment options include systematic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, alcohol injection and laser photocoagulation.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a thermoablative technique which destroys tissue by heating cancer cells to temperatures exceeding 60°C. In RFA, temperature changes are induced using high-frequency alternating current applied via an electrode or electrodes placed within the tissue to generate ionic agitation. RFA can be applied percutaneously, laparoscopically or intraoperatively.
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